Savor The Words
Hello, out there. I just recently had a conversation with a friend about poetry. She confessed to me she wasn’t a big fan and that while she liked some poets she just couldn’t get through a book of poetry.
Aha!
Did you get that…my first Aha moment! 🙂
So I explained to her that part of the problem was she was trying to read a collection of works as if it were a novel. Each poem is a separate entity unto itself. They are not meant to be read back to back….but to be savored, enjoyed one bite at a time, if you will. This really seemed to make a lot of sense to her and I’m hoping by sharing this it might help someone else open up to poetry.
The other thing I hear from people is they don’t always get it… what does the author/poet mean… My response is what did it mean to you? Really, what did it make you think? What did it make you feel?
To me a great poem or story or song is one that makes me think or feel anything! If it make me sad or happy or even angry. AND if it makes me think of something in a way I never have before that is in itself a huge reward.
So take what you like and leave the rest 🙂
~Melanie Blackwell
Exactly right, Melanie! Your words ring true. Thank you for posting 🙂
Cheers,
Tyler
Thanks for reading! 🙂
Poetry is like films.
Or novels.
Or paintings.
Everyone has their likes and dislikes; their favourite genres; their must-avoids. I don’t understand how people can’t like poetry. That’s like not enjoying the cinema, or talking to people, or listening to music.
Nobody wants to talk to everyone at the same time. Or listen to an entire music library one album after another. Or watch every Kevin Bacon film in one go. (Or even one Kevin Bacon film in one go.)
To paraphrase Forest Gump: “Poetry is like a box of chocolates.” (I haven’t woken up properly yet…as you’ve probably gathered.)
Thanks for your comments. Very well said… even if you hadn’t had enough coffee yet!
This is indeed a great post! I have the same opinion of poetry, not to be read like a novel, great insight my friend!
Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Perfect explanation and one that should be taught to schoolchildren at a very early age
Thank you, I really think so. 🙂
Reblogged this on Wordifull and commented:
In honor of National Poetry Month I thought I’d reblog some thought on poetry.
All excellent points. I wrote a poem about this yesterday called, “What is a Poem?”
Thank you 🙂 And I stopped by and took a look at a few of your poems. Pleased to “meet” you.
Many people a) don’t read the right poetry and b) think every word HAS to mean something. Part of the problem is we are taught a very crude version of poetry in school, and as a result most people regard poetry as almost a kind of poison.
There’s a poem I wrote a while back called “the common complaint” I’ll be sure to blog it sometime. It’s a poem about all the complaints people have about poetry (it will tie in well with this post).
Keep spreading the good word, sister! 😉
Well that is the thing…different poetry will appeal to different people just like movies, books, music, food, etc.
I think another BIG problem is the way it is “taught”….explications and such. I wrote something about that as well… I’ll find it and reblog.
Thank you for reading and commenting. You should post the poem and let me know. I’d love to read it 🙂
Delightful and needed words! You are a sister of my soul, Melanie. Love you, kindred spirit!
🙂 Soul sisters, indeed. Love and hugs to you 🙂